Stockton gran Edna celebrates 100th birthday

Edna Smith with her children Audrey Jackson, Paul Smith and Frederick Smith

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A GREAT-GREAT-GRAN who has outlived doctors’ expectations by nearly 80 years has celebrated her 100th birthday.

Edna Smith, nee Popple, wasn’t expected to live to see her 21st birthday after an injury to her leg resulting from a playground fall became septic.

Doctors told Edna’s mum Margaret that her daughter would need her leg amputated if she were to live, but Margaret refused.

Edna, of Stockton, said: “My mother said no. She said ‘If she’s going to go, she can go with her leg on’.”

But thanks to pioneering surgery for the time, doctors were later able to remove the poison, along with a section of Edna’s left leg, replacing it with metal, with her undergoing around 12 operations on it.

Now - apart from the leg - Edna couldn’t be in better shape at a century old, enjoying a party for around 100 people to celebrate her milestone last Friday, organised by her family.

Edna, who was born and bred in Stockton and married her late husband Frederick, who she met at St Thomas’ School, when she was aged 21, said: “I had no idea they were planning it.

“I thought I was going out for a meal. It was dark and they all started singing happy birthday.

She joked: “I said they could have killed me with the shock! I still haven’t got over it!

“It was wonderful. I got 140 cards and lots of lovely presents and my telegram from the Queen.”

Edna, who had four children - Audrey, 76, Freddy, 73, 61-year-old Paul and the late Valerie - 10 grandchildren, 19 great- grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren, puts her ripe old age and good health down to nothing more than simple happiness.

She said: “I don’t know what the secret is - I can’t believe it myself. I think it’s just good living and being happy.”